For Ukrainian teens, first day at Topeka High is like stepping into a different world

How big did the Topeka High tower seem to the three Ukrainian freshmen?

The age of the historic, 90-year-old building wasn't much to the girls and the family members who toured the school with them. Buildings like that, currently under siege in Ukraine, are much more common in a European country that measures its history in centuries, rather than the handful of decades that make up U.S. tradition.

Instead, it wasn't just the size and architecture of the imposing, Gothic and Tudor-style building that impressed them, but also the smaller things — bulletin boards and the lunch process and extracurriculars — that are hallmarks of the U.S. high school experience.

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It was a different world they were stepping in, and one they hardly could have imagined just six months ago, before their lives were upended and they fled from the Russian invasion of their country. About 17 Ukrainian children will start school at Topeka USD 501 buildings this week, with more likely on the way over the next few months.

The district on Tuesday arranged a private tour for the girls, led by young alumni to help them get acquainted.

For their part, the trio of freshman girls — none of whom are yet very fluent in English — seemed anxious but excited ahead of their first day at Topeka High.

Mariia Ratman, the older sister of one of the three girls, helped translate as Topeka High principal Rebecca Morrisey toured the group through the high school's historic halls. Ratman said on behalf of the girls that they were struck by the building's beauty.

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"Much bigger," she said. "More beautiful — this school is very beautiful. Everyone here is more kind and friendly to students."

High school in Ukraine, Ratman said, is a plainer affair, with more homework and smaller student enrollments. The girls listened closely as teachers and staff explained the various extracurriculars at Topeka High — all three seemed particularly interested in dance and cheer — but their eyes widened as they heard, through Ratman, that 450 students make up the freshman class alone.

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The girls were also scheduled to take part in the school's orientation process Wednesday, in which they would spend time with all other Topeka High freshman getting to know the the layout of the building and the process of going class to class.

Morrisey showed the girls the assistant principals' offices on each floor, so that they would know where to go for help, some of which they will assuredly need in their first few days at Topeka High. Although teachers will be equipped with translation tools, the girls — and two other Ukrainian boys who weren't on the tour — will be without dedicated interpreters.

Pilar Mejia, the director of cultural innovation who has been the main district administrator to assist Ukrainian students, said the first few days may have some hiccups, as the students learn how to communicate with teachers and their fellow students.

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It's a myth, though, that it's difficult to pick up a language after early childhood, she said. Mejia was formerly the principal of Scott Dual Language Magnet School, and in her expertise and prior research, immersion is the best tool to help someone learn a new language.

"If adults could have the same time that children spend in an immersion situation like school, they would pick up the language just as easily," she said. "The issue is time."

Rafael Garcia is an education reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at rgarcia@cjonline.com or by phone at ‪785-289-5325‬. Follow him on Twitter at @byRafaelGarcia.